Many people share the same dream of living off the land, tilling the ground and growing their own crops.If you didn't grow up on a farm, it can be easy to romanticize the farmer's life, imagining it as a meditative, relaxed life far away from the frantic pace of "city life."There is a big difference between someone who knows how to farm and a farmer, so consider your personality, your goals, and your strengths when making a decision.
Step 1: Think about why you want to be a farmer.
Farming requires a lot of knowledge and investment.You have to be more than just a small business owner.Farming is unpredictable, even if you do everything right, because of natural disasters, pests, and the price of crops.Farming requires more time investment than a full-time job.Farming will have to become your life unless you want a very tiny farm or large garden as a hobby.
Step 2: Do you think about your priorities?
What do you want your life to look like?What goals do you have for yourself?Are they concrete, such as an annual income or time with your family?Is it a feeling of satisfaction or a certain quality of life?You should consider what you are willing to give up.What are you willing to do to achieve your goals?
Step 3: Do you think your personality is a good fit for farming?
Farming can give you a life of independence and connection to your land, but it is also a huge responsibility.Knowing how you are likely to respond to situations will help you decide if farming is right for you.Is it comfortable for you to be solely responsible for a large operation?The success of small farms depends on their owner.You are in charge of all the day-to-day operations as well as long-term planning as a farmer.There are many decisions to be made when the fate of your farm is at stake.Is it possible to accept uncertainty and variability in your life?There is a high possibility for failure in a farmer's life.Even good years can see you operating at a break-even level.Between 2012 and 2022, the number of farmers in America is expected to decline due to the hardship of farming.Are you a problem-solver?Having the imagination to think of creative solutions is important to your farm.Are you a patient person?You will make many mistakes when you first start out in farming.It can take a long time, even years, until your farm is fully successful, so you will need to be able to work toward long-term prospects.
Step 4: List your weaknesses and strengths.
Tell yourself the truth here.What do you like to do?What are your weak spots?Are you good at your job?You need to be able to calculate risk margins, record sales and purchases, and track profits in order to keep your farm running.Are you good at heavy labor?Modern equipment can break manual labor in farming.To be a farmer, you need to be fit and healthy.Are you able to invest in farming?A lot of capital is required to start a small farm.You need to purchase materials and equipment.You have to buy land or face unfavorable land lease relationships if you want to keep your farm.Are you able to learn quickly?If you want to succeed in farming, you need to keep up with the latest trends and techniques.Do you have any health problems?If you are self-employed, health insurance can be expensive.Farming may not be enough for you if you have chronic health problems or need a lot of expensive prescription medicines.
Step 5: Is the economic hardship of small farming acceptable to you?
Small-scale farming is a poor-earning business, and most small farms need outside income to stay afloat.Saving for retirement or sending your children to college are goals of yours, so farming may not be for you.In 2012 the median farm income was.The average small farm in America lost over a year's worth of money.
Step 6: There are websites about farming.
Farm Aid provides information and resources about farming in order for you to make a decision about becoming a farmer.There is a resource center devoted to beginning farms.The National Young Farmers Coalition is for beginning farmers.The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program has a project called Start2Farm that gives a lot of information on beginning a farm, finding funding, and locating services.
Step 7: Reach out to your local extension.
You can access the extension office at a college or university.Local small business owners and agricultural producers can get help from these offices.They have a lot of resources on farming and agriculture.
Step 8: Talk to the farmers.
Farmers talk about their lives and experiences.Get to know the farmers who sell their goods at your farmers market.Ask them what they love and hate about their work.Call or email the farms in your area to see if you can meet them.Farmers are usually very busy and passionate about their work, so they will be happy to talk to you.You can ask questions on online message boards.It is better to talk with people in person.
Step 9: Someone is on a farm.
If you are serious about becoming a farmer, volunteering on a farm is a good way to get a feel for the lifestyle before you make a big investment.Many local farms offer volunteer programs, as well as organizations that link organic farms with volunteer opportunities.
Step 10: There are farms in your area that are looking for interns or apprentices.
In exchange for your labor, many of these programs will give you room and board as well as a small stipend.If you are serious about starting your own farm, experts recommend three to four years of apprenticeship.
Step 11: Determine which crops to grow.
It can be hard to narrow down the types of crops your farm will grow, but there are ways to do that.The majority of agricultural crops grown in the United States are grain crops.One of the fastest-growing sectors in American farming is organic vegetable production, which is a good choice if you live in an area with a demand for it.There are a lot of resources that can help you make a decision.You can find links to help conduct research on crop planning at the New England Small Farm Institute.Information on regional crops can be found at the National Agriculture Library.If you want to know more about crop planning in your area, contact your state or province department of agriculture.
Step 12: Find a place to farm.
Farmers can't afford to buy their own land at first.80% of America's farmland is controlled by owners who are not farmers.According to most expert sources, beginning farmers should start by managing someone else's farm, leasing farmland from private owners or land trusts, or taking over an existing farm from another person.Word of mouth is a great source of information about farmland.Do your research and cultivate your farming connections.You can find farms to take over or farms that need managers from sources such as the "Farm Link Program Directory".
Step 13: Tell the truth about your potential locations.
If you want to find affordable farmland, you may need to relocate.It is possible to fantasize about a farm in the Hudson Valley or the Bay Area, but keep in mind that such areas are very expensive and highly desirable to other people.If you want to buy your products in a populated area, look for farmland that's out of your price range.The areas recommended by Modern Farmer are Lincoln, Nebraska; Des Moines, Iowa; Boise, Idaho; Mobile, Alabama; and Grand Junction, Colorado.They are close to populated areas, but not so prestigious that you can't afford land.
Step 14: Financing for your farm is secure.
Federally backed loans from the USDA are available to beginning farmers.You can begin your research at an online resource such as FarmAid or Start2Farm.The "Farm Service Agency Beginning Farmer Loan Program", National Council of State Agricultural Finance Programs, Farm Credit Services of America, and the American Farmland Trust are good places to begin your funding search.
Step 15: Limit the initial development.
If you want to control your startup costs and limit your risk of failure, start small and develop your farm gradually.You don't need a lot of expensive equipment to start farming.Your main focuses should be your soil and product.
Step 16: You should grow what you know.
When you're first starting out, cultivate what you have experience with, because experimentation is great.If you worked on a berry farm, you should grow fruit.You can raise pigs if you trained on a pig farm.As you get your farm up and running, starting with some expertise and experience in your area will be important.
Step 17: You should promote your products.
Your network of personal and community connections will be the most important way to promote your farm products, but you can also use other marketing options as well.Place coupons in the local paper, create "pick-your-own" events, even cold call restaurants in your area to see if they want to purchase your locally grown goods.Market yourself on social media.You can post pictures of your farm on social media.An inspiring board can be created.These social media tactics are useful ways to get your farm into the public eye, even though they don't seem related to tilling the earth with your hands.They're almost always free as an added bonus.
Step 18: You can join a CSA society.
These organizations connect people in the area who want to buy local produce with the farmers who produce it.Most of the time, people will buy "boxes" at a subscription rate and you will deliver whatever fresh produce you're growing at that time.This can be a great way to spread word-of-mouth about your farm.
Step 19: Consider farm tourism.
Many city dwellers are eager to learn more about farming and get their hands dirty, even though this route may seem like selling out.Promote farm tours and gardening classes.You could advertise as a wedding venue.Even if your crops don't do well one year, maximizing every revenue stream will help you stay afloat.Wedding budgets are great news for farmers as brides and wedding planners are willing to spend big to have their wedding in a picturesque rural locale.It can cost thousands of dollars to use your farm as a wedding venue, which could be a significant portion of your annual income.
Step 20: Don't stop learning every day.
The first step is knowing how to grow crops and raise livestock.Continue to do research on new techniques and opportunities even after you have learned the basics, and try to learn from other farmers.Don't get lulled into a false sense of security about your farming.Those with experience and real-life knowledge of farming and raising livestock/crops will give you the information and knowledge you need.You will have to learn from other people's mistakes."Learn from the mistakes of others, because you won't live long enough to make them all yourself," is a saying common among airplane and fighter pilots.
Step 21: Don't be disengaged with your community.
It's important to have a strong connection to your community to run a successful farm.A support network is also a result of having a good relationship with your community.If you don't know how to communicate, network or talk with other people in your community, you cannot market or sell your product.Make friends, acquaintances and business partners with the various people involved in agriculture, be they farm equipment mechanics, local butchers, potential buyers, other local farmers, or various other people.
Step 22: Thank you for what you have.
Most farmers don't have a lot of money to spend on things like toys and luxuries that other farmers do.Farming allows you to think creatively, to be your own boss, and to feel proud when you put in a long, hard day of work.Many farmers say that they love the sense of independence they get from farming.Don't think that you have to have the latest equipment to be a farmer.It's a mistake for new farmers to think they have to spend a lot of money.Ask experienced farmers for help.Don't be afraid to increase your assets to improve your farm.There is a line between working with what you have and having to spend money to get the things you need.
Step 23: Expect to be jack or jenny in all trades.
You have to be a welder, mechanic, electrician, chemist, plumbing, construction builder, accountant, vet, marketer, and even an economist.Make sure you know which hats to wear.Someone will teach you if you don't have all of these skills.This is where you can use your community engagement.
Step 24: Don't disrespect your farm.
Your success as a farmer is dependent on a number of factors, including your own hard work and skills, the land, animals, and the forces of nature that you interact with.Don't try to turn your farm into something other than it is.You will get a much deeper understanding of your farm if you cultivate a deep appreciation for it.Whether or not you can raise certain livestock with success or failure depends on where you live.It is important to respect your farm's equipment.You shouldn't treat farm machines like toys.Understand that they are powerful machines that can easily kill if not handled correctly and follow safety procedures at all times.
Step 25: Love and be proud of what you do.
As a farmer, you grow food for other people who can't grow their own food due to time, living spaces or life choices.You get to experience rural life at its fullest: the highs, the lows and the hard work that goes along with it.In America, 2% of the population is farming.5% of the population in Canada follow this category.Being a part of the minority, you get to provide food for others, so be proud of that.